5 Ways To Boost Your Fuel Economy

The summer travel season is upon us which means fun, family road trips are ahead! While you’ve likely mastered the art of cruise control by now, one thing you might not know, is how to efficiently boost your fuel economy. That’s why we’re sharing these 5 helpful tips with you today! Keep reading to find out what they are.

1. Replace Your Oil RegularlyDid you know that the quality of your engine oil affects your fuel economy? Not only is old engine oil said to contribute to oil sludge development, it is also said to reduce your vehicle’s engine performance and horsepower. Our recommendation to combat this problem is to get your oil changed regularly in accordance to your vehicle owner’s manual. Get one step ahead of any potential problems and stay pro-active year round!

2. Stop Carrying Dead WeightDo you drive around with a bunch of unnecessary junk in your trunk? Traveling with excess weight in your vehicle is said to make your engine burn fuel faster! So before heading off into your next road trip, be sure to clear out your trunk/back seats of unnecessary clutter and remember to only pack what you need. When you’re done, you will see your gas mileage improve tremendously.

3. Break Your Bad Driving HabitsBad habits can be hard to break, but if you want to maximize your fuel economy, you’ll have to break free from your gas guzzling ways! Rapid acceleration and speeding has been proven to decrease gas mileage by a whooping 33%. Ever heard of the saying “slow and steady wins the race”? Well in this case, driving steady and at a consistent speed will help you keep your money in your pockets – in our books, that’s a win!

4. Stop Using Cruise ControlWhile the feature is great in theory, a major setback of cruise control is its inability to take into account the shifts of the terrain. If all roads were flat, cruise control would be perfect for optimizing fuel economy. However, since this isn’t the case, you will notice that your engine is forced to accelerate unnaturally when driving up an inclined section of the freeway. Not only is this bad for the engine itself, it also increases your risk of getting into an accident due to the lack of control you have over your vehicle. Don’t take your chances – just keep your foot on the pedal!

5. Keep Those Tires Properly InflatedTo no surprise, under-inflated tires can drastically affect your vehicle’s fuel economy. In addition to this, tires with low air pressure can also lead to premature wear, poor handling, and even massive failures while driving on the highway. Our recommendation to remedy this, is to do yourself a huge favor during road trip season and swing by your local gas station (at least once a month) to check your tire pressure! Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

This summer road trip season, our family at Peninsula would like to wish everyone safe and happy travels! While rising gas prices remain out of our control, we hope these 5 tips will be able to help you keep your vehicle’s fuel economy within your control. Should you find yourself in need of collision repair services while in the Bay Area, please give us a call and rest assured that you will receive quality repairs with the health and safety of everyone in mind.